What It Feels Like to Be on Welfare

[sheshe2]

Not too long ago, I woke up, grabbed my iPhone and popped onto Facebook to see what I had missed since falling asleep. What can I say other than I play on social media like it's my job. Normally my news feed is full of baby photos, food, and travel shots and the occasional questionable joke. On this particular morning, I was faced with a photo of a food stamp with a note to "those on welfare" who "don't work" and "milk the system." The post was calling for "accountability." I just shook my head in disappointment.

While most political comments don't hit me very hard (we all have a right to our opinion), I have a difficult time with those that group any set of people into a section and blame and berate them. It's especially disturbing when those I know make these kinds of statements and then look me in the eye and say it to me as though I am above some kind of fray. Quite frankly, it makes me sick to my stomach. Yes, there are people who abuse all kinds of systems, regardless of their tax bracket, but too often I hear people equate poverty with laziness or worse, criminal behavior, and it's heart-wrenching for me on a deeply personal level.

I have made no secret that I come from way down. I grew up in various cockroach-infested apartments with a violent, drug-addicted ex-felon father and a mother who did me both a favor and a great disservice by leaving. The only person I had to watch over me and make sure that I had food, water, and ice for my wounds was my beloved, hardworking and retired grandfather who supported me with a $500 monthly budget that was paid to him via pension and social security.

That included rent money.

When we lost our home (thanks to my father skipping bail) we moved into our fishing trailer and ate Pork and Beans nearly every weeknight for dinner. On weekends, we lived lakeside and ate the fish we caught. Finally, after we had to spend one third of our income on my eyeglasses, we went to sign up for food stamps, and stood in line for our boxed block of "government cheese." For a former foreman and a little girl who was already made fun of for a number of reasons and who was particularly sensitive to her grandfather's feelings, it was humiliating.

I hated seeing my proud and dignified hero standing in line for handouts. This was a man who prided himself on being self-sufficient and instilled a sense of duty and independence in me from day one. We were not drug addicts living the high life-we were just poor.

Read the rest here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brenda-della-casa/welfare-what-its-like_b_4255553.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

Excellent article, well worth the read~

[Demo_Chris]

1. rec

[Mnemosyne]

2. Excellent read, sheshe! Interesting comments too. Thanks. nt

[freshwest]

6. They are simply repeating the memes. Rush hcalled SS pensions 'welfare' and 'charity' 20 years ago.

A generation now believes the lie repeatedly daily. It's hard for them to resist. When they've heard it for so long, they figure it is not disputed.

It's been disputed many times, but repetition has a powerful effect. Not only on those who believe it but those who don't.

The reason it effects those who know better, is that they know they are outnumbered by those who repeat the lie. It's almost become the truth, because the people silence themselves.

It's like the numerous internet threads or boards where the base assumption is that Obama is up to no good. There are many reports that say otherwise, but the only thing that will get the views are the negative titles.

It's a human trait to want to be with the crowd, to get along to not be attacked. When one is wanting to say something that goes against the flow, they know what is going to happen.

So they get demoralized and give up or go with the flow. It's almost a non-verbal thing, done without much thought. I'm glad that you were able to talk to your GOP friends...

[sheshe2]

13. The stupid, from the likes of Rush and his ilk lives on...

The only way to stop it is if the Dems GOTV 2014.

The GOP has held power for far to long. They have bullied on the playground long enough. It is time for the adults to take the field.

Thanks, fresh~

[sheshe2]

8. I have always hated the term "entitlements"

Last edited Mon Dec 23, 2013, 01:48 PM - Edit history (1)

They spit that word out of their mouths as if it were a dirty word. "Entitlement", SS is now a handout, really? Something that you have worked for and paid into your entire life is now an entitlement. You are just a bunch of low life scum, so F**K off.

So....

Republicans tend to look upon anyone who gets government assistance, their pejorative "welfare", are simply lazy parasites who don't want to work and are getting something for free that they don't get.

Talk about lazy parasites. This Congress has produced NOTHING! They have spent precious tax payer dollars on the repeal of Obamacare, 40 plus times! Issa has spent a huge amount of tax payer money on witch hunts. They never voted on a jobs bill. They do not even work for a living, yet they get their paycheck every effing week.

The shrinking middle class and low income workers are not the takers. America needs to wake up, vote for your interests damn it not against them. TPubs wake up and smell the coffee!

GOTV 2014

Thank you for your post, elocs~

[grasswire]

4. comments section is interesting, too. nt

[brer cat]

5. Well worth the click to read it all.

Thanks for posting, sheshe2. I wish some of the welfare haters could take this message to heart, but I doubt they would even bother to read it.

K&R

[sheshe2]

9. Sad, I know brer cat.

Thank you

[joeglow3]

7. I think the a users are much easier to see

I have known two people getting government aid and they have next to zero work ethic. However, I have many friends who I know don't make a bunch of money. I bet many of them are getting some form of aid, but you don't see it as easily - they work, have an apartment, etc. And it is because of the pride mentioned in this article. I certainly would t advertise it if I was in their shoes.

[Major Nikon]

10. Our country should be judged on how we treat our most unfortunate, not our most fortunate

[sheshe2]

11. You hit the nail on the head, Major Nikon!

Sad that it is not so!

[Prophet 451]

12. I have never known a country that hates it's poor like the USA

although Britain is getting close.

[aroach]

14. Everyone I know...

Every family I know to be on food stamps does work -- usually at some minimum wage McJob that they consider themselves lucky to have found.

Interesting tidbit: You can't get food stamps if you are a full-time student. I am a full-time student. Granted, I'm 48 years old and went back to finish a degree I started almost 30 years ago. To get food stamps you have to drop down to part-time which would cost me my academic scholarship. The scholarship requires that I take at least 15 hours per semester.